Pokhara High Court orders recount of votes in Byas Municipality

DAMAULI: The Pokhara High Court has issued an order for a recount of votes in Byas Municipality of Tanahun district.

Conducting a final hearing on the writ petition filed by Deepak Raj Joshi, the candidate for the post of Mayor of Byas Municipality, on Tuesday, the Court decided that the claim of the petitioner is substantiated.

Bishwanath Aryal, Information Officer at the High Court, said that the joint bench of High Court Judges Rajan Prasad Bhattarai and Nirmala Poudel Bhattarai delivered the verdict in favor of the writ petitioner Joshi.

Joshi had filed a writ on May 26, 2022, naming five parties, including the Election Commission, as the defendants, arguing that the counting of votes was rigged. Five advocates had argued in the case from Joshi’s side.

Baikuntha Neupane, who got 12,078 votes in his favor, was elected as the Mayor of Byas Municipality in the local level elections held on May 13, 2022.

Neupane’s closest contender Joshi had received 11,826 votes.